Dream Ride Preparations #3
Living the Dream of Art by Bicycle
The Dream Ride is still a dream, and I’m living it every day. In 2010 I put in place many of the pieces that are needed for an extended expedition, yet there are others that will take more time. While I work on those in 2011 and continue to dream of bicycling across the U.S., one way I’m living my dream is by getting on my Xtracycle regularly with my watercolor or oil paints and painting en plein air. Getting in the habit of frequent painting sessions and working out the details of the right painting equipment and how to carry it by bike are all steps toward my vision. It’s like a journey in place just to explore this incredible section of Central California Coast where I live.
The year 2010 turned out to be stupendous in ways I hadn’t expected: a massive bloom of krill in Monterey Bay brought unusual numbers of great blue whales feeding close to shore and I was on the ocean guiding tours twelve hours a day with the giants. It was an incredible summer for all of us at Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Thousands of whale fans who came from near and far to see the blues also enjoyed the usual humpbacks and the less common minke, fin, and even the very rare sei whales that came to California. For a break I ventured inland to a little art festival in the Nevada desert in August, and enjoyed that trip too. Whale watching calmed down after September and Fall was a time to catch my breath before the Gray whales started migrating south in late December.
Now that it’s Spring, there is so much to investigate. Days are getting longer and we may still get some wet Pacific storms. I’ve never painted with oil paints in the rain before but I know people who’ve used them under water while SCUBA diving, so maybe I’ll give that a try too.
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Video – Kate Spencer Talks About Art and Lizardfish
This one-minute video captures what Lizardfish Studios is all about — painting and drawing wildlife, sharing what I see with the world, and having fun learning about nature. The footage was shot by Monterey videographer extraordinaire Zee Labega at WebSmartVideos.com. She’s the one to call if you’re thinking of adding video to your website, and if you aren’t thinking about it yet, her site will tell you why you should. Thanks, Zee!
About Kate Spencer
I have woven a lifestyle around nature, art, science, and travel. My vision centers on the natural world: primarily the incredible beauty of it and the accomplishment of presenting it accurately, but also the struggle to be good stewards amidst the tsunami of mindless consumption. More...
